James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Monday, October 15, 2007

We had the day off in Baltimore yesterday, so we spent most of the day in the Walters Art Museum. This is a must-see collection if you like 19th Century academic painting, and they also have a vast collection of Asian, Egyptian, and Roman stuff on display. And it’s free! Check out this gem “Figaro’s Shop” by the Spanish genre painter Jose Aranda 1837-1903.

I also inaugurated a new Moleskine mini watercolor sketchbook. The view is of Vernon Square Park from the steps of the Peabody Conservatory.

As usual, I picked a motif that was way too complex, so I was boggling my brain trying to sort it all out. I took a couple of shots in progress:

I tried to simplify things by using a limited palette: lampblack, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, vermillion, and sepia. After a quick pencil drawing, the first step was to block in the main shapes with a ½ inch Winsor & Newton series 995 flat.

After this rough block-in I like to add the finicky details with a brown fountain pen. But I left it in the hotel room, so I used an Escoda 1212 Kolinksy round #4 instead. The water supply is from a clear 35mm film can. Remember film cans?

WOW...very cool James. I love how those little plein air sketches can transport a person back instantly to that time and place....for me much more than a photo, probably because it is more personal instead of just point and click.

Yes, I've tried the water soluble graphite pencils, and I love them. Right now I have a Derwent Sketching 4B in my pencil box. Most of the time I use it like a normal pencil and forget about its special properties. All I need is a sawed-off brush and a film can of water, and I can melt a grainy pencil tone into a smooth wash.

Actually I held the little camera under my chin and used the self timer. Not easy, because the darn thing was slippery and kept falling in my lap. You should have seen the look of the tourists walking by as I was fooling with the thing.

Ever try a Niji waterbrush? its brush pen that stores water in it, pretty useful for quickie sketches along with watercolor pencils and a small travel kit like you have. I agree there is nothing like a sketch or watercolor to really capture the feeling of a place and bring it home with you (though photos are nice too :) )

Hello,NIce blog i like itHistorical period films are those that are set in the background of a historical period with some exceptions. There are certain standards that have to be maintained to classify a film as a historical period film. All things including the sets, props, costumes, styling, and characters will have to symbolize the time and background of the event.